ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Rs. 50 lakh compensation declared for the Port employees/workers in case of loss of life due to COVID-19
All port employees including contractual labourers employed directly by the Port and other contractual employees are covered
Ministry of Shipping has decided that all the Major Ports may grant compensation /Ex-Gratia in the event of loss of life due to COVID-19 to the dependent members/legal heirs of the port employees as under:
|
|
Category
|
|
Amount of compensation/Ex-Gratia 
|
|
All Port employees including Contract Labourers employed directly by the port
|
|
50.00 Lakh
|
|
Other Contractual Labourers
|
|
50.00 Lakh
Monetary Compensation is declared to cover the risk of life due to COVID-19 contamination while discharging the Port related duty. Port Chairman is the competent authority for the settling claims/ disbursement of the compensation/Ex-Gratia and verifying authority for the cause of death from COVID-19. This compensation is applicable only for the pandemic of COVID-19 and shall be in force up to30.09.2020, subject to review thereafter.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates 250mm Seer Water supply scheme in Kashmir.
Project to benefit around 10000 people
Two day J&K visit of Piyush Goyal concludes.
Visit sees signing of Historic MOUs.
UT of Jammu and Kashmir on path of development and prosperity- Shri Goyal
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal concludes his two day visit to Pahalgam as part of the public outreach programme of the central government.
The Union minister inaugurated tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course Pahalgam. Shri Goyal also inaugurated Forest Departments Deodar sapling plantation drive being conducted under the banner of Green JK Drive. A total of 1 lakh saplings will be planted as part of the drive. Enquiring about post plantation care for the saplings, the minister was apprised that fencing and other appropriate watch and ward measures are taken.
Addressing a gathering at Pahalgam, the Union minister thanked the people of Kashmir for their participation in the development process and appreciated their dedication towards promotion of tourist activity. He said that the concerted efforts of the government of UT of Jammu and Kashmir towards development have started bearing fruit and investors from rest of the country and abroad are eager to invest in the UT.
The minister discussed developments in the tourism landscape and was happy to observe that there is brisk tourist activity in Pahalgam. He highlighted the need to up the tourist infrastructure to attract more foreign tourists.
The union minister inaugurated 250mm Seer Water supply scheme. The project will benefit around 10000 people and will be completed under the ambit of Jal Jeevan Mission within three months. He appreciated the rapid pace of developmental works and commended the frontline workers for working towards realizing the Prime Minister's dream of tap water for all households.
Goyal also visited Rahi Shawl Unit located at Akad Park. He interacted with the local artisans and examined various handicrafts like zari, sozni, tapestry, etc. The minister appreciated the intricate work being put up by the artisans. He said that handicrafts of Kashmir tell a symbolic story and the govt is committed to ensure this story reaches all parts of the world.
The Union Minister also visited the Sun temple at Martand. Located atop a hillock, the temple is one of the earliest known sun temples much older than Konark and Modhera.
While appreciating the historical significance of the place, the minister passed directions to the district administration to give wide publicity to the temple and bring it on the tourist map. He also underlined the need to bring other such lesser known historical places on the tourist map.
Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries, DC Anantnag and other officials of the district administration were present on the occasion.
Department of Space
Commercial Exploitation of Space Research and Development
A new company by name, “New Space India Limited ”, has been incorporated on 06th March 2019, as a wholly owned Government of India Undertaking / Central Public Sector Enterprise , under the administrative control of Department of Space  to commercially exploit the research and development work of Indian Space Research Organisation .
Mandate of NSIL includes viz.  Small Satellite technology transfer to industry wherein NSIL will obtain license from DOS/ISRO and sub-license it to industries;  Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle  in collaboration with Private Sector;  Productionisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle  through Indian Industry;  Productionisation and marketing of Space based services, including launch and application;  Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent institutions of DOS; and  Marketing of spin-off technologies and products, both in India and abroad and  any other subject which Government of India deems fit.
With the activity plan and the mandate set for NSIL, Indian industries are likely to see a major spur in their growth in the space sector. This initiative would further enable scaling up the manufacturing and production base in Indian industries towards meeting the growing needs of Indian space programme and exploiting the opportunities available in the global space market.
All the involved technologies related to ISRO’s small satellite and its sub-systems that could be transferred to Indian industries for productionisation which eventually would cater to national demand as well as commercial needs of domestic and global market. This activity is also likely to give rise to several spin-off technologies that could be marketed nationally and globally.
Through the sale of products related to small satellite, sub-system technology and the spin off products in domestic and global market, foreign exchange revenue will be generated.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Newly identified gene could be clue to treatment of fungal infection in immuno-compromised patients
A newly identified gene can hold the key to prevent fungal infection Candidiasis that often affects intensive-care unit  patients, cancer patients and patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
The gene called CSA6 has been identified in Candida albicans a fungal species infamous for causing high rates of morbidity and mortality under certain immuno-compromised conditions such as AIDS or during cancer treatment. The fungal species residing in mucosal linings of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract of healthy individuals turns into a pathogen under immuno-compromised conditions breaching the host defense causing superficial as well as life-threatening systemic infection.
In a recent collaborative study between Professor Kaustuv Sanyal’s group at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Bangalore, India and Christophe d’Enfert’s group at Institut Pasteur, Paris, France , authors carried out a large-scale screen to identify regulators of chromosome stability in C. albicans, a clinically relevant fungal model system.
The authors from JNCASR, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology , individually screened the effect of overexpression of more than a thousand genes of C. albicans on genome stability and were successful in identifying a set of six chromosome stability  genes that are important for maintaining genome integrity. While five of the CSA genes identified in the study are known to be important for cell division in other species, the sixth CSA gene, named CSA6 encoded for a protein that is essential for viability in C. albicans. They found that Csa6 was a critical regulator of cell cycle progression wherein both overexpression and deletion of Csa6 lead to reduced growth of C. albicans cells.
The study published in the journal Nature Communications represents the first-ever report of such an extensive screen in the human fungal pathogen C. albicans. It identifies and elucidates the functions of a novel regulator of chromosome stability that is exclusively present in a group of medically relevant human fungal pathogens. Besides, it also provides a systematic scheme for identifying genes whose products may serve as potential therapeutic interventions for fungal infections by posing lesser adverse effects on humans. Hence, small molecule modulators that alter expression levels of the gene called Csa6 offer potential avenues for treatment with no side effects in humans.
For more details contact Prof. Kaustuv Sanyal; Email ID: sanyal@jncasr.ac.in.
Contrasting aberrant mitotic spindle structures upon Csa6 overexpression  and depletion  in the elongated bud cells of Candida albicans.
<><><><><><>
SNC/RR
(Visitor Counter : 3143
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
34 Cr. Vaccine Doses  administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India reports 46,617 new cases in last 24 hours
India's Active Caseload declines to 5,09,637
Active cases constitute 1.67% of total cases
2,95,48,302 Total Recoveries across the country so far
59,384 patients recovered during last 24 hours
Daily recoveries continue to outnumber the Daily New Cases for the 50th consecutive day
Recovery Rate increases to 97.01%
Weekly Positivity Rate remains below 5%, currently at 2.57%
Daily positivity rate at 2.48%, less than 5% for 25 consecutive days
Testing capacity substantially ramped up – 41.42 cr tests total conducted
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
MSP operation during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 gains momentum with increase in the quantum of procurement in procuring States and start of purchase in some new States
Moong having MSP value of Rs. 3.33 crores, Copra having MSP value of Rs. 52.40 crores and Cotton having MSP value of Rs 75.45 crores procured till 10th October
With the commencement of Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes as was done in previous seasons.
Paddy Procurement for Kharif 2020-21 has gained momentum with increase in the quantum of procurement in procuring States and start of purchase in some new States. Food Corporation of India along with other Government agencies has, upto 10.10.2020, procured over 37.92 LMT Paddy with a total MSP outflow of ₹7159.39 Crores to more than 3.22 Lac farmers.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 30.70 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds for Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the State of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under Price Support Scheme  so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 10.10.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 459.60 MT of Moong having MSP value of Rs. 3.33 crores benefitting 326 farmers in Tamil Nadu and Haryana. Similarly, 5089 MT of copra having MSP value of Rs. 52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling at or above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Moong and other Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
The Procurement of seed cotton  during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 has started from 1st October, 2020 and cumulative procurement as on 10th October, 2020 by Cotton Corporation of India has reached a quantity of 24863 bales under MSP for a value of Rs 7545 lakh benefitting 5252 farmers.
Prime Minister's Office
PM highlights importance of Poshan Maah in converting nutrition awareness into a mass movement
In the latest address of Mann ki Baat, the Prime Minister noted that the month of September will be observed as Poshan Maah - Nutrition month. He said that nation and nutrition are very closely interrelated. He recalled the maxim - "Yatha Annam Tatha Mannam," which means that mental and intellectual development is directly related to the quality of our food intake. He said that nutrition and proper nourishment play a big role in helping children and students to attain their optimum potential and to show their mettle.He stressed that for children to be well nourished, the mother needs to receive proper nourishment. He added that nutrition merely does not only imply eating but getting essential nutrients like salts, vitamins etc.
Prime Minister noted the efforts made in the country during the past few years especially in villages where public participation in nutrition week and nutrition month is converting nutrition awareness into a mass movement. He added that schools have been integrated into this mass movement with efforts being made to ensure competitions for children to increase nutrition awareness.
Prime Minister said that in a class, just like there is a Class Monitor, there should be a Nutrition Monitor. Similarly, just like a Report card, a Nutrition Card should also be introduced. He informed that during the course of the Nutrition Month, a food and nutrition quiz as well as meme competition will be organized on the My Gov portal. He asked the listeners to participate in it.
Prime Minister informed that at the Statue of Unity, a unique kind of nutrition park has also been created where one can witness nutrition related education along with fun and frolic.
Emphasising that India is endowed with a lot of diversity in food and drink, Prime Minister said it is very important that according to the season of a particular region, a well-balanced & nutrient rich, diet plan should be drafted to include local food grains, fruits and the vegetables cultivated there. He informed that an ‘Agricultural Fund of India’ is being created that will have complete information about the crops that are grown in each district and their related nutritional value. Prime Minister asked the listeners to eat nutritious food and stay healthy during the nutrition month.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Reinforcing commitment to strengthening national security and Modi Government’s policy of zero tolerance to terrorism, Union Home Ministry under leadership of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah today declared nine individuals as designated terrorists under provisions of UAPA Act
Under the strong and iron-willed leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government had amended the Unlawful Activities  Act, 1967 in August 2019, to include the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist. Prior to this amendment, only organizations could be designated as terrorist organizations.
The Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah during the debate in Parliament last year on the amendment to the Unlawful Activities  Act, 1967, had strongly expressed the Modi Government’s commitment to firmly fight the menace of terrorism and had unequivocally reaffirmed the nation’s resolve on this matter. By invoking the said amended provision, in September 2019, the Central Government designated four individuals as terrorists, viz. Maulana Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-RehmanLakhvi and Dawood Ibrahim.
Reinforcing the commitment to strengthening national security and its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism, the Union Home Ministry under the leadership of the Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, today declared the following nine individuals as designated terrorists under the provisions of the UAPA Act 1967  and included their names in the Fourth Schedule of the said Act. Their details are as under:-
1. Wadhawa Singh Babbar: Pakistan based Chief of terrorist organization, “BabbarKhalsa International”.
2. Lakhbir Singh: Pakistan based Chief of terrorist organization, “International Sikh Youth Federation”.
3. Ranjeet Singh: Pakistan based Chief of terrorist organization, “Khalistan Zindabad Force”.
4. Paramjit Singh: Pakistan based Chief of terrorist organization “Khalistan Commando Force”.
5. Bhupinder Singh Bhinda: Germany based key member of terrorist organization, “Khalistan Zindabad Force”.
6. Gurmeet Singh Bagga: Germany based key member of terrorist organisation, “Khalistan ZindabadForce”.
7. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: USA based key member of Unlawful Association, “Sikh for Justice”.
8. Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Canada based Chief of “Khalistan Tiger Force”.
9. Paramjit Singh: United Kingdom based Chief of terrorist organization,“BabbarKhalsa International”.
These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism from across the border and from foreign soil. They have been relentless in their nefarious efforts of destabilizing the country, by trying to revive militancy in Punjab through their anti national activities and through their support to and involvement in the Khalistan Movement.
Prime Minister's Office
PM anguished by the bus accident in Uttarakhand
Announces ex-gratia from PMNRF
.
The Prime Minister Office tweeted;
"उत्तराखंड में हुआ बस हादसा अत्यंत पीड़ादायक है। इसमें जिन लोगों ने अपने प्रियजनों को खो दिया है, उनके प्रति मैं अपनी शोक-संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूं। राज्य सरकार की देखरेख में स्थानीय प्रशासन मौके पर हरसंभव सहायता में जुटा है: PM @narendramodi"
"The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the accident in Uttarakhand. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each."
Ministry of Defence
Army Day Parade
1. Army Day Parade will be conducted at Cariappa Parade Ground on 15 Jan 2020. In addition, a press brief for Republic Day Parade and Beating the Retreat will be conducted on 23 Jan 2020. Venue for the press brief shall be intimated later.
2. All interested media persons are requested to forward following details for necessary security clearances to armydayparade2020[at]gmail[dot]com by 01 Jan 2020 :-
- Full Name.
- PIB/ID Card No
- Scanned photo of ID Card
- Name of media Agency
- Photo of the applicant
- Applying for : ADP/Press Brief/Both
3. For any clarification, please callup 011-23019659. Mail received after 01 Jan 2020 may not be considered.
Col Aman Anand
PRO 
(Visitor Counter : 505
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Consultations on design of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Mission  with key stakeholders
Shri Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat-PMRSSM along with Shri Alok Saxena, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Dr. Dinesh Arora, Director  held consultations with representatives from leading general and standalone health insurance companies, and hospitals . Representatives from industry bodies such as CII, FICCI, IRDA, NABH, NatHealth and QCI also participated in the consultations and provided valuable inputs to the discussion.
The representatives were appreciative of the initiative being undertaken in PMRSSM and of the substantial engagement of all the stakeholders covering all the aspects like operational guidelines, model tender document, empanelment criterion, package details and rates etc.
Shri Indu Bhushan emphasized that, “We need to design the scheme to ensure that the targeted beneficiaries get maximum benefits and we can expand access to quality health services in rural areas and Tier-2 and 3 cities. This can be done only when Government, hospitals and insurance companies work together as partners”
The deliberations with the insurance companies were focussed on how to get the most competitive rates without compromising the quality of healthcare services and prevent frauds. Representatives from hospitals highlighted the need for timely payments for their services by insurance companies/ trust. They were appreciative of the claim management process that has been incorporated in the Mission.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has invited comments/inputs on the model tender document and the guidelines. The stakeholders have sought extension keeping in view that the issues raised are complex and requires detailed deliberations. In view of the requests, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of comments to 5th May, 2018.
PMRSSM has been designed to provide financial protection and prevent catastrophic health care expenditures to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families and endow a cover for cashless hospitalization services of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Transgender Persons  Act, 2019 provides for inclusive education & opportunities without discrimination
The Transgender Persons  Act 2019, section 13 provides that every educational institution funded or recognized by the appropriate Government shall provide inclusive education and opportunities for sports, recreation and leisure activities to transgender persons without discrimination on an equal basis with others.
Department of School Education, MoE implements The National Education Policy, 2020 which envisages an inclusive and structural change in the educational system. It focuses on ‘Equitable and Inclusive Education’ which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational opportunity because of their background and socio-cultural identities. NEP, 2020 identifies transgender children as Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups  and provides for equitable quality education, inter-alia, for all such students. This includes provisions for assisting transgender children in gaining access to education, support for community-based interventions that address local context-specific barriers to transgender children’s access to and participation in education, thereby aiming to eliminate any remaining disparity in access to education for children from any gender or other SEDGs.
Under Samagra Shiksha, teacher and school heads are trained under NISHTHA , a nation-wide integrated teacher training program. NISHTHA, inter-alia, covers relevance of Gender Dimensions in Teaching and Learning Process, which helps teachers to use and adopt learning activities that foster gender sensitive classroom environment. Further, teachers are also oriented on counseling, provisions of POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, School Safety guidelines, helpline and emergency numbers, drop-box for complaints, etc.
In addition, National Council of Educational Research and Training  has developed material including training modules for the capacity building of teachers on the issues related to gender in education. NCERT has been training teachers, teacher educators and school heads on gender sensitization with an all-inclusive approach. The concerns related to transgender children are addressed in different textual and training materials/manuals/modules.
This information was given by Minister of State for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri. A. Narayanaswamy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.